Diego Forlan writes a weekly column for The National, appearing each Friday. The former Manchester United, Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid striker has been the top scorer in Europe twice and won the Golden Boot at the 2010 World Cup. Forlan’s column is written with the assistance of European football correspondent Andy Mitten.
Like many people around the world, I'm looking forward to the Premier League starting this weekend.
There are several reasons why it is considered the best league in the world overall, even though the best teams do not play in it. Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Bayern Munich and Juventus are currently better than any English team, as they have proved season after season in Europe.
So why is the Premier League so popular? The stadiums in England are always full and the stands are right by the pitch, with no athletic tracks like you see elsewhere. The games are more equal, the football is aggressive and referees let the game flow more than in other countries. There is always goals, you do not see teams holding out for a goalless draw because fans won’t accept it. The games last for 90 minutes, there’s no killing a side off and relaxing after 60 minutes.
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I love the Primera Liga, but there's more of an imbalance because of an unequal distribution of money. You know the best three are going to win 80 per cent of the time.
In England, it’s more like 60 per cent. There is more competition, more surprises, especially now because no team or pair of teams are dominant like when I played.
Then, it was Manchester United and Arsenal. Now, I would not be surprised if United, Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea or Tottenham Hotspur won the league this season.
Then you have the potential surprises. A year ago, I wrote in this column that Chelsea would win the league again. They did not even finish in the top six.
Leicester City, favourites for relegation, won it. That is another reason why the Premier League is so popular, but there are more factors.
The pitches are excellent, the fans noisy. Not noisy in a South American organised chanting kind of way, but those surges of noises you hear when your team attack. The supporters in stadiums support, too. They have belief for 90 minutes.
You do not get that everywhere. Then, when everyone else is having a break around Christmas, the Premier League has four games in quick succession.
It is crazy; it is intense for players. Yet the way the teams travel helps.
I estimated that I spent 180 days per year away from home in hotel when I played around the world. In England, it was half that.
I know United have changed now, but you could sleep at home the night before games at Old Trafford. And because so many games are so close, you could be back home quickly from many away games.
Liverpool to Manchester is less than an hour. There are lots of derbies, lots of huge rivalries. United and Leeds United were rivals when I was there. I would like to see Leeds back.
This season, Middlesbrough, a team I was going to join, have been promoted and they have three good Uruguayan players.
That is another reason the league appeals – it has players from around the world. Maybe that is a reason why the England national team is so poor, because not enough players get a chance and almost no English players play abroad.
The Premier League has got so many big clubs, too. Liverpool are massive around the world, probably because of what they did in the 70s and 80s.
I knew all about them growing up in Uruguay. I was keen to make a good impression at the famous Anfield stadium when I played there too, so I made sure I scored for United. Twice. Then, in case they forgot me, I scored again for Atletico. Liverpool fans applauded me at the end, which was a class thing to do.
I cannot see one team dominating this season, not like we used to at United where we could win by playing badly.
United played poorly last season and lost several times. In fact they did not win one game in eight in December.
United have bought well this summer and Jose Mourinho is a top manager. I think Zlatan Ibrahimovic will succeed in England, while the young players could well make United great again and get them back to where they should be, but it is unlikely to happen immediately.
Teams come together over years, not months. I also think United need stronger squad players around their star players, who could get injured.
They have a very good reserve goalkeeper in Sergio Romero, but need more cover in other areas. What happens if they even have half the injuries of last season?
United have serious competition, too. Pep Guardiola is a master, but he will demand his players play exactly to his system.
They have to trust him like Barca’s did. Again, that could take time, but if he gets it right City could be outstanding. They’re buying fast young players. Speed and age matter.
The rivalry between Guardiola and Mourinho will keep people watching. I was in Spain when they were head-to-head and the clash of styles and personalities fascinated.
England is full of top managers. Antonio Conte did a superb job rebuilding Juventus and I hope Chelsea are patient with him. Arsene Wenger will always put a title challenge in with Arsenal.
Mauricio Pochettino has a fine young team which he has built at Tottenham.
Can he compete for the league while playing in the Champions League and does he have the money to add to it with the top class signings?
All these questions will be answered. I would love to play back in the Premier League, but I appreciated the chance I had when I was younger.
While I consider what to do next with my career, I’ll happily watch the football from England.
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